FishTank

The reason I bring up braid..... I have a buddy that bought one, he loves braid and he found that with (whatever brand it is) braid that it will absorb a ton of water causing the spool itself to be heavier. This appears to make the spool slower on his DC reel. He changed to a different, lighter braid (maybe 65lb to 40lb) and the heavy spool issue with this reel went away. If it were me, I would have pulled the braid off and put on some mono or FC.

I have the DC as well. I have had zero issues with it and it casts a 3/8oz crankbait a country mile. I have been using 12lb FC and have yet to get a backlash on setting #2. I will use #3 in the wind and if I am using a heavier lure, 1/2oz and up, I can generally get away with setting #1. I wonder if the original poster is using braid. Just curious.

I have tried them and to they're just meh. They aren't the worst but not the best either. For me, they don't stay sharp very long and depending on the hook they bend easy. The sharpest I have tried have been X-Point, Trokar, and Owner (in that order) but I use Gamakatsu's most of the time.

I like the Wingman as well but I wish I could put my favorite things from different tools into one that is made just for fishing. I would want the tools accessible from the outside, the handles to be non slip grip, lightweight overall, scissors good enough to cut braid, a straight edge knife, a longer set of pliers that are spring loaded, a removable sharpening file, a heavy duty saw, a bit set in the sheath, 1/4 adapter, carabiner, a can opener and a file. I know it's asking a lot but you would think with all the fishing gear head out there someone would make one of these specifically for fishing.

So far I love my Curado DC. It's smooth and casts a mile.

My guess.....This looks like the older version of a Gary Yamamoto Curly Tail Worm. I think they used the tails off of the Grubs and married it with a Senko. There was also a different version of the 6in grub that sort of looked like this. And.... There were some custom one-off baits with odd colors that looked this that showed up at local tackle shops years ago (eg. Fat Ikas and Double Tail Hula Grubs).

I can't speak too much for the Avid X but I have a couple of the regular Avids and one of the LTB's. The LTB is a several years old and 3 of the Avids I have are also about the same age. There is a distinct difference between these rods in sensitivity and feel. I did purchase an Avid last year though and this newer version feels less stiff at the tip and much more like the older LTB. If I had to choose a new rod, I would probably get another Avid.

6lb is lowest I will go on spinning gear and 10lb on baitcasters.

I use a Falcon Jerkbait box. I wish they still made them. It can fit deep diving baits or 2 regular jerkbaits in one slot without them getting tangled up.

If you don't plan on changing the ice for 5 days, you are getting into Yeti territory. There are alternatives like Nice, RTIC, Orca, and Pelican but when you are gone that long it' going to get expensive. Check out this video maybe it will help...... And this one for under $100.....

I watched the video and I know I shouldn't knock it until I try it but the I can't get past the design. Any reel that relies on a gimmicky look (the teeth in frame) just is an immediate turn off to me> Call me old school I guess. I do like how the gear ratios are color coded, the look of the cork knobs and the materials of the pinion and main gear seem well thought out. The line guide system may also be a plus. It's cone shape looks promising. If I were a younger guy getting started in bass fishing, it would look like a lot of reel at the given price point.

I have to confess this is a googled photo. I just picked the first one that I found that showed the same weightless rig I use. As far as the color goes, I believe that is Peanut Butter & Jelly, #918. Just in case (again), I did not shoot this photo. I should have not been lazy and take one..... In my case, I use 12lb Seagur Invizx on casting gear and 6lb Trilene XL 100% FC on spinning gear.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I ended up getting a Leatherman Signal and Leatherman Style. I found such a good deal on the Signal ($70), I couldn't pass it up. I went to Cabelas and basically they had all the ones I was interested in. The Signal had everything I wanted except a good pair of scissors so I got the Style as well. The other one that caught my interest was the Free P4 but someone bought the last one while I was looking. Plus it was $45 more than the two I bought put together. I will need to pick up a bit set sometime in the future. Only time will tell if this will get the job done.

I use a 4/0 EWG.

I usually take four rods..... 1. senkos weightless 2. weighted t-rigged plastic 3. crank baits 4. jerk baits

Do you guys have a recommendation for a multi-tool that can be used for fishing? I don't think these will replace my regular fishing pliers but I find my self needing a few various tools from time to time and thought it would be nice have a handy all in one tool that I can keep on my belt or in my pocket. I have looked several from Leatherman, Gerber and Sog. The more I look the more confused I get. Thanks for any advice.

I used a spool of 12lb for almost 3 years for jigs and soft plastic around rocks, trees, stumps, and grass. I never had to re-spool. The line just finally wore out. I did use a little mono backing so I could spool up two reels with with it. I would say this is the best line I have ever used. As far sensitivity goes, it is pretty amazing.

Having owned a 201B and a 201 BSF, it will be weird to go to some of the new reels on the market. I would probably guess that even a new Curado will feel strange in hand. I was lucky over the summer to test out a Tatula SV TWS (a little different but similar to the 100) for two months and I can say it is a fine reel with a few oddities. It does cast well and is pretty smooth. It will feel more machined than the old Curados and will have a lot less (if any) back play in the handle. The things that bothered me were and only a little> 1. The handles - they're just different. 2. Breaking - too many adjustments, I was always fine tuning the cast. Once I thought I got it set, the wind would change or I would want to do a shorter cast and I was adjusting it again. But after a day of it, I got use to it and it was not such a big deal. But if you are use to setting the breaks and forgetting it with your Curados, this will definitely be different. 3. It took me awhile to get use to palming it. The design of the T-Wing, which is actually genius, would cause me to put my fingers on top of it. This really was just me getting use to it. I will say this about the reel.. I own the Steeze SV TWS and this reel made me question my purchase because it's just that good. The awesome SV spool and the drag on this reel make it a no brainer at $200. I hated to give it back to it's owner, who had several of them. And with all that said.... I would, in the end, pick the Curado K over the Tatula just because I liked fishing over the course of the day better, just a personal preference. Both great reels though.

Many moons ago, some of the reels I tried in that price range didn't last too long. Maybe a year or two (some not even a season). It all depends on how you fish, how often, under what conditions, how you maintain your reel, and even what kind of line you use. You can also debate the life span difference between a spinning reel and a casting reel too. I think ultimately the real durability begins with the $100 price range. This seems to be the price point where all of the manufactures are competing.

I have the HG and love it so far. It's built like a tank and you get the sense that it will last forever. Just a solid reel.

I have been using a St. Croix Avid 7' MH Fast with an older Shimano Curado G for spinner baits but I tend to use the 1/2oz and above spinners baits. If I went smaller, I would use the same rod in a Medium but I have not purchased one yet. On a side note, this rod can be used for just about anything except small crankbaits. It's my go to general purpose rod.

Awesome catch. That had to be fun to bring in.

For me, the DC casts further than the Bantam but it does cast further than the K. As far as braid goes, I have not been a fan unless I use it for topwater (especially frogs). I think the Bantam would be a great frog reel though. I currently have my Bantam spooled with 15lb CXX and mounted to a St. Croix Legend Elite 7' MH Fast. I use it for heavier Texas Rigged plastic and jigs.

The DC to me casts slightly better than the Bantam but the Bantam is the better overall reel. The solid frame makes the reel sort of sensitive in hand. Also, the Bantam is fun to fish. The noise of the DC takes some getting use to but if you are casting into the wind like I was yesterday, it's a life saver. I think if I had to choose one reel to add to an arsenal, the Bantam is the clear choice. If I was choosing a group of reels to tournament fish, it would be Curado K's and DC's.

I have the Bantam HG and love it so far. It is heavy but it's smooth as silk. Think of a 200 size Calcutta in a low profile reel. I also have a K and a DC. Both reels are awesome. I do however like the DC better than the K. I would think they would be similar in feel but after a season of use I can definitely feel there is a difference between the two besides casting.